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Cruise Changes Biomedical Art Grad's Life

Biomedical Art graduate Nicole Kurtz ’10 spent two months on an oceanography research vessel in the Pacific Ocean this past winter and came away with a new career focus.

Kurtz left a job she loved – producing trial graphics for the courtroom for Visual Evidence LLC – when she was accepted for a residency aboard the ship JOIDES Resolution. Scientists on board collect measurements to better understand climate change over time. Kurtz was charged with illustrating their work; broadcasting six, hour- long videos per day to schools around the world; and maintaining a blog for teachers.

“The appeal of it was that I could make art in a really bizarre experience, communicate with people from all over the world, and obtain a network that I would never have been able to experience before. And that’s really what happened,” she said. Since returning from cruising near the equator, Kurtz has continued freelancing for the consortium of scientific organizations that run the program. “I love the fact that I spent four years at CIA, and I worked my butt off on my BFA, and I’m doing exactly what I spent my time at CIA learning to do. I just think it’s really awesome that I can translate these skills,” she added.